Research!

[chrysopteron]

After finding her way to Milliways again, Iris finally learned about the rooms upstairs.

And there is a library!









A copy of Aesop's Fables gets produced for Iris, and is read several times over with great interest and confusion (at times), before really thinking about the opportunities.

"...Where could I find a scroll on...genetics?"

The book provided by the library engrosses Iris for quite some time - she gives up the attention required to hide her wings from view after the first hour.

Comments

[chrysopteron]

Charles doesn't play this "Getting To Know You" game very well.

"I have none." No assignments, nor personal projects. "Why do you ask?"

[balancingminds]

This is because he cheats and he happens to be rather close to Iris and is finding her eyes rather distracting,

"Because I'd like to spend the rest of it with you."

[chrysopteron]

Oh.

Iris kisses Charles on the cheek and hovers there for a minute. "I think that would be perfect."

[balancingminds]

Her hovering is charming and he leans forward to kiss her on the lips.

[chrysopteron]

How does he make you feel? Iris remembers being asked.

"Perfect." Repeated for no useful reason.




"But what shall we do?"

[balancingminds]

"Whatever we'd like. We could find a place to hide here and investigate kisses or have a picnic outside or something else I haven't thought of yet,"

He's quite happy to be with her and learn more of how she feels and kisses and the different ways she's happy.

[chrysopteron]

"Does all of that count as an option?" All in a kind of timid fluster.

"Should we find some place more private?"

[balancingminds]

"I'd say it does and the library is fairly private but we could find someplace else. What kind of space would you prefer?"

[chrysopteron]

"Oh, no. Here is lovely."

The muscles in between Iris' shoulderblades twitch, causing her wings to shift slightly against her chair.

"Though I must become more accustomed to the idea of having to negotiate with my wings. So much furniture," she laughs, squeezing Charles' hand slightly.

[balancingminds]

"I wouldn't want you to feel that you have to worry about your wings. I think I saw a little domed area that way, you can see there's more light,"

Exploring will pull them farther from where other people might enter.

[chrysopteron]

"Oh no, it's truly not a concern -- "

Just be quiet and take a suggestion, Iris!

"...but seeing more of the library seems like a good start to things."

When she stands, Iris hooks her arm through Charles' as they walk to the open area.

[balancingminds]

He smiles and kisses her cheek as he stands moving deeper into the library where there is a little reading room.

Its not much but there's light coming from somewhere and a couch just the right size for two people, "I think this should work."

[chrysopteron]

"Do you know others here who fly?"

Seemingly out of nowhere.

Iris sits poised at the edge of the couch now, wings trailing down the back.

"I wonder because -- well. I always thought mortals would have an issue with them, but you barely seem concerned."

[balancingminds]

"No, I don't but then my idea of what's normal is rather different. I expect to find mutants with wings at some point, there's no reason for them not to exist. Your wings are part of you and beautiful,"

Carefully he reaches a hand out to move it from her shoulders to just touching her wing.

[chrysopteron]

Iris lets out something akin to a purr.

"That feels like ... a warm wind, with a heartbeat and thought and life."

Not normally one to wax poetic, Iris looks at her feet for a minute, cheeks tinting.

[balancingminds]

That sound is something he can almost feel and he smiles to kiss the space beside her ear as he strokes her wing once again,

"Beautiful."

[chrysopteron]

Iris leans into Charles' touch. How is he so warm?

She stretches her wings out - a sudden thought to use them, envelop Charles close to her with them. It's not a tight space by any means (Charles has already positioned himself much closer than her wings force him to be) but the gold of the feathers brings spots of sunlight to Charles' face and skin. Beautiful.

"What can I do, kyrios?"

[balancingminds]

When she moves her wings in, he keeps a light touch on them, caressing them as she brings them forward.

Then he kisses her on the lips before whispering to her, "Whatever you'd like."

[chrysopteron]

Whatever I'd like. That should not be as novel a concept as it is.

Iris' arms thread around Charles' waist when they kiss - feeling the muscle of his back move - listening, responding. Her hands end up falling slightly to his hips and pressing her fingers to him.

"I have a complaint against your shirt, sir."

[balancingminds]

At the feel of her hands, he shifts and smiles, "And what complaint is that?"

His hand not on her wing is near her shoulder and he finds her skin between her neck and peplos.

[chrysopteron]

Iris swallows, smiling despite herself.

"It conceals much."

She doesn't ask permission before untucking it from Charles' waistband.

Buttons are a vaguely modern thing in Charles' style at least, but Iris starts to manage them.

[balancingminds]

He laughs and kisses her ear and then down her neck until he meets the fabric of her peplos,

"As does your dress."

[chrysopteron]

Right. Of course.

Iris temporarily abandons Charles' shirt for her own girdle. Untying it turns her peplos into so much draped fabric, still tied at each shoulder. She reaches across her chest to lift up one shoulder - pulls it over her head and off, all the while trying to keep her eyes fixed on Charles.

[balancingminds]

When she lifts off her dress, he gasps in surprise and laughs before unbuttoning his shirt enough to tug it over his head.

Then he closes his eyes for a moment to check that no one is entering the library, if he feels another mind, he'll worry about diverting them.

Once he's certain they're alone, he closes the small distance between them by kissing her first on the lips and then using his hands and lips to explore her body.

[chrysopteron]

It's nearly fun. Fun, and dramatic, and Iris gets almost lost in all of it with Charles against her skin.

"No, here -- " she pulls Charles standing and pivots, sitting him on the couch. Iris sits alongside and keeps her wings up to screen them both.